Local Boy Victim of Japs in Burma; Robert Hittle Dies in Nip Prison Camp; Houston Survivor Passed Away Two Years Ago A grim see-saw of uncertainty regarding the fate of Robert Hittle, first battle casualty of World War II for Patterson, apparently ended Saturday as a Navy telegram brought news to his mother, Mrs. Rosalie Hittle, that he had died in a prison camp in Thailand on August 17, 1943. Hittle was a shop's cook, third class, on the ill fated Cruiser Houston, which was sunk in the Battle of the Java Sea on February 27th 1942. Believed lost with all hands, news that Robert was missing in action was sent on March 14th, 1942, just two years after he had enlisted in the Navy. Reported safe; Only scant hope of his survival remained, as no trace of any of the Houston's crew was reported until nearly two years later. Then on January 3rd, 1944, word was received that Hittle was one of the survivors at the end of hostilities. And then, through some error yet unexplained, Hittle's name was included in a new report of those rescued. But the official telegram Saturday seems to be the last word.

Lifelong resident; Hittle was 25 years of age and had lived here virtually all his life, coming here at the age of 6 months. He attended the local schools. He is survived by his mother and father, A.B. Hittle, and sister Peggy, all local residents, and another sister, Dorothy, who resides in Southern California.

Death of W. T. Kidd Yesterday Morning
William T. Kidd, highly esteemed resident of the community for over a quarter of a century, passed away at his North Third Street home at two o clock yesterday morning. While in failing health for several months, the end was sudden, resulting from a heart attack.

The next news to be received arrived last spring in the form of an official notification of the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Major Phillips' "for extraordinary heroism in action from October 23, 1943, to March 15, 1944." And then on October 30th came a confidential letter from the Adjutant General, stating that Lawrence had been missing since March 15th, but asking that the news be kept to themselves for military reasons. And this request was faithfully observed by these loyal soldiers on the home front, who allowed not a hint to get out of their worries - until the final news came Tuesday.

Grave found
The next day a letter brought added details as a missive from the island headquarters told of finding his grave as follows: Headquarters First Reconnaissance Battalion, Special United States Army Forces in the Far East.

22 March. 1945
It is with a deep sense of sympathy that this command takes note of his loss to you and to the military service. Major Phillips was known to this organization as an aggressive and outstanding soldier of splendid character. In a civilian cemetery near the town of Abra de Hog, Mindoro stands your son's grave with the following inscription, "Major L.H. Phillips, U.S. Army, shot at Cabilagan by Nips Imperial Army, March 15, 1944." It is reported that Major Phillips was given a military funeral by the Japanese.

Active in Islands
Phillips had enjoyed wide contacts in the Philippines as a result of his career as manager of the Bugo Misamis plantation of the Philippine Packing Corporation, subsidiary of the California Packing Corporation, on Mindanao Island. He was highly popular with all who knew him – extending from the ranch laborers who once gave him a great feast on the occasion of his birthday, up to President Quezon himself. In fact, Quezon had suggested his appointment as Minister of Agriculture, but when it was pointed out that he was not a native of the islands, the plan was modified to make him adviser to the minister - a post which it was planned would occupy a part of his time along with his other duties. This occurred at luncheon conferences in Washington late in 1941 and then came Pearl Harbor and the cancellation of plans to return to the islands.

Offered other posts
Phillips was offered some attractive posts in agricultural development of critical materials in which he would have been of great service and safe. But he felt his place was in the islands, where he could serve best among the people he knew so well. And so he accepted a commission as captain in the Army Engineers – with duties which were never given out, but which are now believed to have been the dangerous task of contacting the guerrilla forces and aiding in paving the way for the surprise invasion tactics of MacArthur - and his death on Mindoro many months before this invasion was a sacrifice which may have aided in saving the lives of countless men who were to follow him.

New Guinea Farms
But before this work was ready, the engineer-farmer was able to make a notable contribution to the campaigns by his development of New Guinea farming, a project which enabled huge quantities of fruit and vegetables to be cultivated in a land where this was thought impossible and his achievements earned him a feature article in Yank, the Armed Forces' magazine.

This is the story of Major Lawrence Phillips to date. And when the details are filled in, possibly soon, possibly later, it seems that a tale worthy of a movie epic will be completed.

Memorial services for the deceased will be held at the Newman Presbyterian Church at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon. Donald, born at Newman on January 18, 1925, was a graduate of Bonita Grammar School here and of Orestimba Union High School, receiving his diploma with the Class of ‘43. He had enlisted in the Marine Corps in January of that year and was given permission to complete high school before reporting for active duty or July 1st. After attending training school at State Teachers College in Flagstaff, Arizona, he was assigned for further training at San Diego. He volunteered for special training as a Marine Raider, completing this phase at Camp Pendleton. He was then assigned to the Fleet Force Infantry and went overseas in August of last year. Since then, his duties were such that Donald was unable to write of his experiences in the Pacific nor concerning where he was stationed. His parents knew that he was on Iwo Jima, for news dispatches had mentioned his unit as taking part. When letters failed to arrive, even after the normal delay expected under combat conditions, the anxiety of his parents proved well-founded.